Maj Al Pabon – A Great Friend & Mentor

CAP Members & Friends,

It is with great sadness that we share the following announcement of the passing of North Central Region Public Affairs Officer Maj Al Pabon. 

1st Lt Jessa Brace & Capt Cindi Wachholz
Iowa Wing Public Affairs Officers

from Maj Steve Solomon
CAP National Public Affairs Team Leader

Maj. Al Pabon, director of public affairs for the North Central Region and former national volunteer team leader for public affairs, died Friday at the U.S. Army Cadet Compound near Lexington, Ky. He was 46.

A Civil Air Patrol member since April 1986, Pabon served as the Minnesota Wing’s public affairs officer from 2002-2009 and recruiting and retention officer from 2001-2007. He was North Central Region deputy director of public affairs from 2006-2008, when he became director.

He was also chairman of the national CAP Social Media Committee.

Pabon was named CAP National Public Affairs Officer of the Year for 2006. Other honors he received included an Exceptional Service Award in 2006 as North Central Region Public Affairs Officer of the Year; Commander’s Commendation Awards in 2002, 2005 and 2008; and a National Commander’s Commendation Award for the Crisis Communications Presentation at the 2003 National Legal Officer’s College and for his service as the college’s public affairs officer.

As wing PAO, he published the monthly WingTips newsletter and produced four episodes of the “CAP Journal” community TV show. He also conducted numerous public affairs and mission information officer workshops as independent sessions or as part of wing conferences. The wing newsletter and website were recognized as CAP’s best with Maj. Howell Balsem CAP Public Affairs Awards in 2007 at the National PAO Academy.

During his tenure as region PAO, he continued to provide training and mentoring and also worked closely with wing PAOs to provide comprehensive coverage of several years of record flooding in the North Central Region.

He will be sadly missed by all.